Tamper evident carton

Abstract

A folding carton comprising at least one panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a tamper-evident feature comprising two partial cuts in the inner surface of the panel, the tamper-evident feature extending from the inner surface portion through the depth of the panel, and the panel comprising a full cut positioned between the partial cuts, wherein the partial cuts are patterned the same and spaced a distance apart parallel to the full cut. The tamper-evident feature of the folding carton can create a visible torn portion that cannot be re-glued or re-sealed without showing evidence that it has been opened.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent No. 201910398216.0 entitled "Tamper-proof Paper Box".

[0002] Cross-references to related applications

[0003] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 62 / 670997, filed May 14, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates to a folding cardboard box for containing articles comprising pharmaceutical packaging. The folding cardboard box has at least one end tab with an tamper-evident feature. Background Technology

[0005] Tamper-evident cardboard boxes are designed to prevent someone from opening a cardboard box on a store shelf and then putting it back on the shelf. With today's standard glued-end cardboard boxes, people can open the box on the shelf without leaving evidence that it has been opened. Tamper-evident features provide a visible indication that the box has been opened on the store shelf.

[0006] EP 2003061A1 discloses another folding box with an tamper-proof closure, wherein the insert tab includes a tear-off tab that is folded in the opposite direction to the folding direction of the insert tab and is torn open when the folding box is first opened. The tear-off tab then engages with a retaining device formed inside the folding box.

[0007] WO 205140704 discloses a reclosable box having an upper closure element and a lower closure element adapted to close the upper and lower openings of the box. The closure elements resist the openings and include an tamper-evident portion that can break upon first opening of the box.

[0008] EP1538089 discloses an tamper-evident package including a locking tab with a crease line that separates the locking tab from the main closure tab and includes a partial locking edge that forms a stop surface.

[0009] One object of the present invention is to provide tamper-evident features in a folding carton. The tamper-evident features are located on two end tabs of the carton, which create a visible tear that cannot be re-glued or resealed without showing evidence that the carton has been opened. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The carton has at least one flap using a combination of a full punch and two partial punches, which, when activated, cause structural damage to the flap. A full punch is a cut that completely penetrates the carton structure from the glued surface (bottom) to the graphic surface (top). The full cut extends continuously across the flap surface and is interrupted at a critical location on the fiberboard with a tab. The tab allows the carton to maintain its structure until the flap can be glued to its final position. The full cut can be designed with a geometry that covers the entire flap area. Other geometries are also possible.

[0011] The present invention relates to a folding cardboard box comprising at least one flap having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface includes an tamper-evident feature comprising at least one partial cut in the inner surface of the flap, the tamper-evident feature extending partially from the inner surface through the depth of the flap, and the flap including a full cut positioned between the partial cuts. The cardboard box may include two partial cuts.

[0012] A full cut is connected to at least one tab. Partial and full cuts are a series of angles. The folding carton may include two flaps with tamper-evident features. The flaps also include opening features, which may be tear strips. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1A The top plan view of a folding carton that can be made into a box includes two flaps on the inner surface with tamper-evident features.

[0014] Figure 1B The bottom plan view of a folding carton that can be made into a box includes two flaps on the inner surface with tamper-evident features.

[0015] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Top and bottom views of the bottom flap of a cardboard box including tamper-evident features.

[0016] Figure 3A and Figure 3B Top and bottom views of the top flap of a cardboard box, including the tamper-evident features.

[0017] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Top and bottom views of a second embodiment of a cardboard box including tamper-evident features on the bottom flap.

[0018] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Top and bottom views of a second embodiment of a cardboard box including an tamper-evident feature.

[0019] Figure 6 For along Figure 5BThe cross-sectional view of the wing section taken from line 6-6. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Referring to Figure 1, a bottom view of the carton blank 10 includes four panels 27, 28, 29, and 30 and glued flaps 33 forming the carton body. Secondary flaps 31 are located at opposite ends of panels 27 and 30. Panels 30 end with two main panels 32, which may optionally include glued tape or other sealing strips. Main flaps 20 and 21, including tamper-evident features, are located at opposite ends of panel 28. Flap 20 includes a tear strip 12 that facilitates opening the carton to access the internal product. Flap 21 includes an additional perforation 26 that also provides tamper-evident features for anyone attempting to tear open flap 21 to access the carton. The tamper-evident features, as shown on each of the main flaps 20 and 21, include two partial cuts 13 through a portion of the flap surface and a full cut 14 through the entire surface of the flap. The full cut has at least one tab 16 that maintains the integrity of the cut. Figure 1B A top view of the cardboard box blank is shown. When folded into cardboard box flaps 20 and 21, the outer surface of the flaps shows a full cut 14.

[0021] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Different embodiments of the main wing 22 with perforations are shown. The planar portion 17 is also shown in these figures. Figure 3A and Figure 3B Different embodiments of the main wing 24 with tear strip 15 are shown. In these embodiments, the number of angled portions of the cuts 13 and 14 differs. Figure 1A and Figure 1B The number of those angular segments shown.

[0022] Figure 4A and Figure 4B An additional embodiment of the main wing 22 with perforations is shown, wherein the number of angles in the cuts 13 and 14 is increased. The planar portion 17 is also shown in these figures. Figure 5A and Figure 5B An additional embodiment of the main wing 24 with a tear strip 15 is shown. In these embodiments, the number of angled portions of the cuts 13 and 14 differs. Figure 1A and Figure 1B The number of those angular segments shown.

[0023] These two partial cuts do not completely penetrate the cardboard box structure. Both partial cuts are located on the glued surface of the flaps and extend continuously without interruption in the same pattern as the full cut. Both partial cuts are positioned at a distance from the full cut, causing fiber tearing upon opening. Depending on the material, the spacing between the partial and full cuts can vary from approximately 1 / 16 inch to approximately 1 / 4 inch. The depth of the partial cuts is approximately 40% to approximately 90% of the flap surface.

[0024] The tamper-evident features in the cardboard box are used with conventional cardboard materials. Cardboard with tamper-evident features can be used in various ways, including attaching to laminated cardboard or plastic packaging.

[0025] As shown in the accompanying drawings, the cut is a set of angles, and the number of angles can vary. The tamper-evident feature can also be made in different geometries, including straight lines, curves, or any shape that provides tamper protection when the box is attempted to be opened. The size of the cut depends on the shape of the package or flap. The cut can extend from one end of the flap to the other.

[0026] Adhesive is used to attach the top cardboard box flap to the bottom cardboard box flap. The combination of adhesive and die-cut pattern creates a system that causes structural damage when opened. During the opening of the cardboard box, the consumer holds the box with one hand and the flap to be opened with the other. The hand holding the flap grasps the edge of the flap and pulls it away from the box to separate the flap from the adhesive. As the flap attempts to separate from the adhesive, the internal fibers begin to tear due to the structural impact of the partial die-cut. The tear increases in size and extends across the internal fibers of the flap until it intersects with the full cut. When the torn fibers connect the partial cut to the full cut, the flap undergoes catastrophic structural damage. This structural damage causes a portion of the flap to separate from the rest of the box. This separation renders the box unusable.

[0027] The exemplary embodiments shown in the figures have multiple individual and independent inventive features, each of which individually possesses unique advantages that are desirable but not critical to the invention. Therefore, not all individual features of the invention need to be presented in order to obtain at least some of the desired features and / or advantages of the invention. One or more individual features may be combined, or only one of the multiple features needs to be present in the cardboard box formed according to the principles of the invention. Furthermore, throughout this application, reference numerals are used to indicate general elements or features of the invention. The same reference numerals may be used to indicate elements or features that differ in form, shape, structure, etc., but provide similar functions or advantages.

[0028] While the foregoing description and drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that various additions, modifications, and substitutions can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Specifically, those skilled in the art should understand that the invention can be implemented in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Those skilled in the art should understand that the invention can be used with many modifications to the structures, arrangements, proportions, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, modifications that are particularly adaptable to specific environments and operational requirements without departing from the principles of the invention. For example, an element shown as integrally formed may be composed of multiple components, or an element shown as multiple components may be integrally formed; the operation of the element may be reversed or otherwise varied; and the size or dimensions of the element may also be varied. Therefore, the currently disclosed embodiments are considered illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects, and the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims and is not limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A folded carton comprising at least one panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface comprises a tamper-evident feature comprising two partial cuts and a full cut; the two partial cuts extend partially through the depth of the panel from the inner surface, the full cut extends completely through the depth of the panel from the inner surface, the full cut is positioned between the two partial cuts, wherein, The two partial cuts are identical to the full cut pattern and are spaced apart a distance parallel to the full cut.

2. The folded carton of claim 1, wherein the full cut is connected to at least one tab.

3. The folded carton of claim 1, wherein the partial cuts and the full cut are a series of corners.

4. The folded carton of claim 1, comprising two of the flaps.

5. The folded carton of claim 1, wherein the at least one flap further comprises an opening feature.

6. The folded carton of claim 5, wherein the opening feature is a tear band.

7. The folded carton of claim 1, wherein the spacing between the partial cuts and the full cut can vary from about 1 / 16 inch to about 1 / 4 inch.

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